Creativity Through Art

Current Exhibitions

“Elysian Fields: Bart Parker and Cohorts”

Elysian Fields was one of Bart’s favorite phrases and he used it often in his lectures as a way of explaining what he hoped to help his students achieve. He used the term in the sense of an artist claiming their own abilities to explore as yet unexamined vistas of thought and creativity and manifestation. He saw this as a utopian ideal of being an artist: entering and exploring the Elysian Fields in order to bring back creative works that were unexpected, evocative, thought-provoking, sometimes disturbing, and ultimately satisfying.

Bart spoke of New Orleans as his first idea of a city. It is no coincidence that a street in New Orleans bears the name Elysian Fields, and appeared as a character in Streetcar Named Desire. Bart’s teaching style was a way to get others to awaken to the artist’s quest at the behest of their unique desire. The results of his success are visible in the work of his students.

He created a wonderful community around his photographic studio. All his Department colleagues remember him as insightful and wise but also full of humorous anecdotes and asides (like his Donner Party comments!) both at faculty meetings and in more informal settings over a glass of beer.

This month-long campus celebration explores representations, the cultural significance and development of black superheroes in the public consciousness. In this collection, the graphic narratives are recognized for their contributions to the still growing racial awareness in the United States. The gallery show includes the seminal black comic book superheroes such as Black Panther, Black Lightning, Storm, Luke Cage, Blade, the Falcon, Nubia, and others, and celebrates black superheroes as a powerful source of racial meaning and imagination in American history. Scholars such as Dr. Sheena Howard (editor of Black Comics: Politics of Race and Representation) and Dr. Jeffrey Brown will join the URI community to open discussion about the academic implications and the rhetorical force of the genre. URI’s Dr. Norman Barber will present “College Norms,” a project that transformed black comics into powerful adjustment and counseling tools for students of color in predominantly white environments. In their radiance and heroic fortitude, these figures dispel racial assumptions and help shape social and political perspective and black identity. The exhibition aims to spark dialogue on issues such as equality, forgiveness, community, and racial justice.

View From Behind Vartan Gregorian School, 2014

“Here on the bank of the river the motifs multiply, the same subject seen from a different angle offers subject for study of the most powerful interest and so varied that I think I could occupy myself for months without changing place by turning now more to the right, now more to the left.” Paul Cezanne

I have painted landscapes outside from a pedestrian bridge overlooking a highway since 1983. I feel a very strong bond to this particular place (India Point). I’ve felt compelled to record it year after year in all seasons and times of the day. I struggle with trying to combine the structural essence of the place with my internal vision.

Changes in the landscape itself, or shifting my vantage point just slightly, are the catalysts for creating a new series.

Working on a large scale outside has posed interesting problems of transportation. My canvas can be rolled when walking to my spot. On the way back, I lay the wet canvas flat and drag it back flat through the streets to my studio. This contributes somewhat to an imperfect surface that I like to work with, and feel it is part of the process.

Ida Schmulowitz received a BFA Degree from RISD in 1974. She has exhibited locally and nationally, including solo shows in RI at the Newport Art Museum, Bannister Gallery at RIC, Hunt Cavanagh Gallery at PC, Atrium Gallery at the State Administration Building, and The Warwick Art Museum. A solo show at the Hoxie Gallery in Westerly was reviewed in the March/April 2014 Art New England.